Maintain structures, not rebuild

Rebuilding Nashville in 1969, after more than 100 years in existence, we tore down Sulphur Dell ballpark to build a parking lot.

Now just over 40 years later, Mayor Karl Dean wants to spend $80 million to put it back.

In 2006, after over 20 years, we tore down the city's major outdoor amphitheater, Starwood, and nothing has been done with the property it once sat on. Now seven years later, Dean wants to spend $40 million more to replace it with an amphitheater downtown, less than half the size.

Last year, there was talk in Metro Council of demolishing the country's second-oldest NASCAR track, located at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds, in order to build an amusement park. When will our local government stop worrying about the shiny new things we could build, and use our tax dollars to maintain the things we actually have? And maybe use some of the spare change to pay for the things people in our city actually need.

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Maintain structures, not rebuild

Rebuilding Nashville in 1969, after more than 100 years in existence, we tore down Sulphur Dell ballpark to build a parking lot.